Hoplinks — Choices, Choices

In this week's Hoplinks, chicken and beer come together, this year's Black Friday is set to be a tasty (and expensive) one, a country music festival gets a beer lineup, Belgian tradition recognizes the US, there's a new king of the beer hill, and the fastest growing US breweries are highlighted.

WEST TOWN, CHICAGO — Goose Island is hitting their Black Friday stride again this year with the release of seven Bourbon County variants. After releasing just four in 2016 following the infection issues in 2015, this year's lineup features some interesting new ingredients and even "reserve" variations on yearly releases. Which one of the 2017 lineup are you most looking forward to? [THR Wire]

CHICAGO — If barbecue, beer, and country music are your things, then you should probably check out the Windy City Smokeout, taking place July 14-16th near downtown along the river. The festival has put together an impressive beer lineup that features a mix of local and national brands. [THR Wire]

AUSTIN, TX — Belgian Trappist brewery La Trappe has named their first US bar as part of their Governorship program. The program, which aims to highlight restaurants and bars that make extraordinary efforts to promote and sell La Trappe and other Trappist beers, named Austin's Mort Subite as the first American member. What other US bars do you think qualify for this recognition? [THR Wire]

USA — It's no secret the American craft beer scene is in the midst of an explosion of growth, but who is growing the quickest? Porch Drinking lists the top 30 fastest growing breweries by volume, according to numbers released earlier this month by the Brewers Association. Looking at percent growth rather than total production highlights some interesting smaller breweries that are certainly ones to watch in 2017. [Porch Drinking]

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Photo of Goose Island Bourbon County variants from 2016 from our fall preview. This year's lineup features seven releases. — by Nick Costa.